Description
Improper handling of insufficient permissions or privileges in Windows Error Reporting allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Published: 2026-01-13
Score: 7.8 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Elevation of Privilege (Local)
Action: Immediate Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability stems from improper handling of insufficient permissions in the Windows Error Reporting service. This flaw permits an authorized local user to gain higher privileges on the system, enabling them to execute actions normally reserved for administrators. The weakness aligns with CWE‑280, Elevation of Privilege. The impact is a local privilege escalation that could lead to full system compromise if exploited by an attacker with basic user access.

Affected Systems

The flaw affects Microsoft Windows operating systems including Windows 10 versions 21H2 and 22H2, Windows 11 versions 23H2, 24H2, 25H2, and 22H3, as well as Windows Server 2022, its 23H2 Server Core edition, and Windows Server 2025 and its Server Core edition. All listed editions specify x86, x64, or arm64 architectures as relevant.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS base score of 7.8 indicates high severity, while the EPSS score of less than 1% suggests a low yet non‑zero probability of exploitation. The flaw is not present in CISA’s KEV catalog. Because the description specifies an “authorized attacker,” the likely attack vector is a local user with some existing privileges. Once the flaw is abused, the attacker can elevate to administrative rights, potentially facilitating further attacks such as persistence, data exfiltration, or installation of malicious software.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 16, 2026 at 08:38 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Download and install the Microsoft security update for CVE-2026-20817 via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog.
  • If the update is not yet available, disable the Windows Error Reporting service to mitigate the vulnerability until a patch is applied.
  • Review user permissions to ensure that only necessary accounts have administrative rights, limiting the potential impact of an elevation of privilege.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 16, 2026 at 08:38 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows Server 2022 23h2
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows Server 2022 23h2

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Improper handling of insufficient permissions or privileges in Windows Error Reporting allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Title Windows Error Reporting Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
Microsoft windows Server 23h2
Weaknesses CWE-280
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_21H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x86:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_10_22H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_23H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:x64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_24H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_11_25H2:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2025:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_23h2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft
Microsoft windows 10 21h2
Microsoft windows 10 22h2
Microsoft windows 11 23h2
Microsoft windows 11 24h2
Microsoft windows 11 25h2
Microsoft windows Server 2022
Microsoft windows Server 2025
Microsoft windows Server 23h2
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C'}


Subscriptions

Microsoft Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 21h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 10 22h2 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 23h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 24h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows 11 25h2 Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2022 23h2 Windows Server 2025 Windows Server 23h2
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-04-01T13:48:22.890Z

Reserved: 2025-12-03T05:54:20.373Z

Link: CVE-2026-20817

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-01-13T19:39:19.976Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-01-13T18:16:08.647

Modified: 2026-01-14T20:31:32.760

Link: CVE-2026-20817

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-16T08:45:26Z

Weaknesses